Steam-trap.



J. F. McELROY, DECD.

S. H. McIELROYI EXECUTRIX.

STEAM TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. I2, 1912.

Patented July 13, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR "WITNESSES:

J5, JTXM ATTY J. F. McELROY, 'DEC[];

8. H. McELROY, EXECUTRIX.

STEAM TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-12, 1912.

Patented July 13, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 mww.

INVENTOR v WITNESSES: X fjw 41 /Z Z/M JAMES F. MCELROY, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK; SUSIE HALE MOE'LROY, EKECUTRIX OF SAID JAMES F. MoELIi-OY, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR T0 CONSOLIDATED CAR-HEATING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

STEAM-TRAP.

Patented July in, acts.

' Application filed January 12, 1912. Serial No. 670,898.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES F. MoELRoY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Albany, county of Albany, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Traps, the following being a full, clear, and exact disclosure of the one form of my invention which I at present deem preferable. I

For a detailed description of thepresent form of my invention, referencemay be had to the following specification and to the accompanying" drawings, which illustrate my invention.

. Figure 1 is a vertical axidl section through the trap on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3; F ig. 2 is a view thereof from the outside; Fig. 3'isa horizontal section thereof on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a plan thereof.

' My invention relates to steam traps, for car heating systems in particular, and is' shown as applied to-a so-called vapor system of heating wherein the inflow of steam to the radiator pipes is controlled by the temperature. of the outflow from said pipes.

In a prior application for patent, Serial No. 646,606, filed August 2a, 1911, I have shown and described a steam trap wherein the high-pressure chamber is separated from the low-pressure chamber by a flexible wall acted upon externally by a thermostat and spring, while within the high-pressure chamher is a valve controlled by the movement of said flexible wall.

In my present invention I also employ a flexible wall, but locate the same in a chainher on the outflow side of the said valve and subject to the pressure of the steam as, it is admitted to the radiator pipes, such pressure being higher than that of the outlet cham her, but not so high as that of the train pipe. I also provide a casing having several sections, one of which serves as a trunk section and carries the ports and nipples for all of the several pipes which connect .with the trap. I have also devised a number of important features of construction which will be hereinafter described, l to the drawings, the external casing of t e tra is shown as divided horizontally at the t ree points, a, b, 0, thereby forming four casing-sections A,'B, C and D.

Referrin posed and also Section B is the trunk section containing all the entrance and exit ports which communicate with the apparatus. These are the train-line port X, the radiator admissionport .Y and the radiator return-port Z. The section A consists of the cap-portion at the to-p of the trap which is secured to section'B by bolts 0), a a The section C constitutes the vertical tubular portion of the casing be ng secured to section B by bolts b b and expanded at its lower end to receive section I) which constitutes the basket for the controlling thermostat. This basket section has perforated walls and is secured to section C by-hinge-bolts d d Referring to Fig.1, E represents a tubular sleeve known as the bonnet which is screwed into the wall that separates the chamber U (formed between said sectio A. and the upper portion of trunk section .B) and the chamber V (formed by the lower portion of trunk section B and the sections G and D). The bonnet E projects down into the chamber V to a point below the dividing line 6 between sectionslB and C and is squared at its lower end to receive a wrench, so that by detaching section 0 from B, the lower end of the bonnet will be exor out of its seatin the aforesaid separatlng wall. Likewise in assembling the trap, the bonnet,- and the other devices associated with it, can be screwed into place in the trunk section B, and the sections A and C-thereafter secured to said trunk section. Be tween the said wall and a flange e on the bonnet is a packing ring 7 whichinsures a tight joint when the bonnet is screwed home to its'seat.

' The bonnet carries on flexible wall composed of a corrugated cylinder F which is seated on the upper surface of the bonnet and brazed or soldered thereto and which surrounds a tubular extension e? of the bonnet E. A rod G passes I accessible for screwing it, to-' gather with the devices carried thereby, into its upper side a i cylinder. At the upper end of rod G is a disk G which forms the upper closed end or head of the flexible cylinder. The rod G is also provided with guide-lugs g which move in vertical slots in the wall of extension 0 these serve to prevent injury to the cylinder F by any attempt to turn the rod G on its longitudinal axis. An open-coil spring N surrounds the rod G below the bonnet and below the spring is guide-spider G secured to the rod and serving as a guide therefor without preventing the flow of steam and water down upon the thermostat H. This thermostat is composed of a cylindrical shell of corrugated metal with a plate at top and bottom and is adapted to contain alcohol. On its lower end-plate is an internal guide-tube h in which plays a rod 72. depending from the upper end-plate. By this means the two plates are maintained in parallel planes. On the outside of the upper end-plate is a hemispherical lug k which seats in a cup-shaped socket on the underside of guide-spider G and forms a ball-and-socket joint therewith. It will. be observed that this joint lies in the line a which separates the covering-sections C and D and therefore it becomes possible to drop down the basket section D by removing one of the hinge-bolts (Z (Z and the thermostat will drop with it, separating from the rod, G at the -ball-andsocket joint. The

.thermostat can then be removed, or conversely can be applied, by seating it in the basket-section when the latter is dropped down, and then lifting the section into place with the lug' la, in its position in the socket. In the chamber U is a lever T fulcrumed at t and one end of this lever consists of an inverted cup K which rests upon the disk G forming the upper end of rod G, while the opposite end of the lever T carries the valve P which is adapted to close downward upon the valve-seat P The'purpose of the cup is to protect the flexible cylinder F from dirt and to overweigh lever T, causing the valve to stand open except when the thermostat H expands and forces the rod G upward. The valve P is jointed loosely to the end of lever T which bears on the valve through a central lug p thereon which allows the valve to be evenly seated, when closed, upon its valve-seat P. It should be observed that the steam pressure in chamber W, which is also the train-pipe pressure, will act against valve P to open it,

,v in the event of its tending to stick to its seat.

The train pipe as enters a horizontal cylindrical extension S of the trunk section B, which extension communicates with chamber W and contains a strainer S consisting of a thin-walled tube with numerous perforations, which is held in position by a screw plug S at one end of extension S having a blow-off port closed by a screw plug S By this arrangement the strainer S can be readily removed for cleansing or the dirt can be blown out by opening the plug S In operation the steam from the train pipe or enters chamber W through the strainer S and then is admitted to chamber U by valve P as the thermostat H may permit. From chamber U the steam passes by port Y and radiator-pipe y to the radiator itself. After parting with most of its heat in the radiator, the steam, or the water produced by condensation of the steam, passes by the return radiator-pipe 2 to the chamber Vof the trap and falls down on the thermostat H which is also exposed to the external temperature outside of the car by reason of the openings in the basket section D. So long as the'resultant temperature of ,the thermostat is suiiieiently high, the alcohol therein will expand and force the upper end plate together. with rod G upward against the force of spring N and thereby close valve P upon its seat. \Vhen the resultant temperature of the thermostat is lowered sufficiently it will act reverselv to allow the valve P to open by virtue of: the steam pressure in chamber 7 and the overweighting effect of cup K. This will admit more steam to the radiator by the route described above, until the increased temperature of the radiator outflow thereby produced will cause the valve P to close again as heretofore described. The thermostat will in like manner respond to changes in temperatureof the outside atmosphere.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a steam apparatus, a casing containing two-chambers, a flexible wall between the two chambers, a valve controlling admission of steam to one of said chambers, a support for said valve acting to normally unseat the latter, and a thermostatically controlled rod connected at one end with said flexible wall, same end of said rod also contacting with said valve support.

2. In a steam apparatus, a casing coutaining two chambers, a flexible wall between the two chambers, a valve independent of said flexible wall for controlling admission of steam to one of said chambers, means connected with said valve tending to normally unseat the latter, and thermostatic means including a rod connected with and inclosed by said flexible wall acting to expand and contract the latter, actuation of said valve unseating means being governed by movement of said flexible wall.

3. In a steam apparatus, a casing containing two chambers, a flexible wall between the two chambers, a valve independent of said flexible wall for controlling admission of steam to one of said chambers, a rod engaging said flexible wall and inclosed by the latter to expand and contract said wall, said rod being independent of the valve, and means where y actuation; of said valve is governed by movement of said flexible wall.

4. In a steam apparatus, a casing containing two chambers, a flexible wall between the two chambers, a valve controlling admission of steam to one of said chambers, a support for said valve having an overweighted end acting to normally unseat the latter, and a thermostatically controlled rod connected at one end with said flexible wall, the same end of said rod also contacting with said valve support.

5. In a steam apparatus, a casing containing two chambers having an interme diate flexible wall, a valve in one of said chambers, an operating lever for said valve having one end resting upon said wall, means in the other chamber for expanding and contracting said flexible wall, and means whereby actuation of said valve operating lever is governed by movement of said flexible-Wall.

6. In a steam apparatus, a'casing containingtwo chambers having an intermediate flexible wall projecting into one of said chambers, a valve in the last named chamber, a movable protecting wall inclosing said flexiblewall and contacting therewith, said protecting wall being connected to said valve, and means in the other chamber for expanding and contracting said flexible wall, whereby actuation of said valve is governed by movement of said flexible wall.

7. In a steam apparatus, a casing containing two chambers having an intermediate flexible wall, a valve in one of saidchambers, an operating lever for said valveprovided with means for holding the latter normally unseated, means in the other chamber for expanding and contracting said flexible wall, said valve lever having a portion arranged to rest upon said flexible wall whereby actuation of the valve lever is governed by movement of said flexible wall.

8. In a steam apparatus, a casing containing two chambers having an inter mediate flexible wall, a valve controlling admission of steam to one of said chambers, a supporting member for said valve provided with a protecting cup inclosing said flexible wall, and means for expanding and contracting said flexible wall.

9. In a steam apparatus, a casing containing two chambers having an intermediate tubular flexible "wall projecting into the first chamber, the space within said projecting wall having a drainage connection with the second chamber, a valve controlling admission of steam to the first chamber, and a thermostatically controlled operating device for said wall in the second chamber.

10. In a steam apparatus, a casing containing two chambers, a flexible wall between said chambers, a centrally pressed valve controlling admission of steam to one of said chambers, a valve operating lever provided with means tending to normally unseat the valve, an operating device for expanding and contracting said flexible wall, one end of said valve lever resting upon said flexible wall whereby movement of the valve is governed by movement of said flexible wall.

11. In a steam apparatus, a casing containing two chambers, a valve controlling admission of steam to one of said chambers, a bonnet between said chambers, a flexible wall supported by said bonnet, an operating rod for expanding and contracting said flexible wall, said rod being passed through said bonnet, said bonnet and rod being provided with complemental means for preventing relative rotation, and thermostatic means for actuating said rod.

12. In a steam apparatus, a casing containing two chambers with an intermediate tubular flexible wall projecting into the first chamber, a bonnet between the two chambers having a port extending into the space surrounded by said projecting flexible wall, an operating device for the wall passing through said bonnet, and a valve operated by said wall.

13. In a steam apparatus, a casing containing two chambers with an intermediate tubular flexible wall projecting into the first chamber, a valve controlling admission of steam to one of said chambers, a detachable 1 5 bonnet between the two chambers having a portion extending into the said projecting flexible wall and provided with a duct for draining the space between said wall and the said bonnet, and an operating device for 11 said wall passing from the second chamber through said bonnet.

14. In a steam apparatus, a casing formed in sections and containing two chambers with an intermediate flexible wall, 115 a detachable bonnet carrying the flexible wall and projecting beyond the casing section in which said wall is mounted, a valve operated by said wall and an operating device for said wall connected therewith 120 through the said bonnet.

'15. In a steam trap, a casing formed in separable sections one being a basketsection for the thermostat, a thermostat detach-' ably mounted in said basket-section, steam I approximately on the line of junction betweensaid, basket-section and the section adjacent thereto.

16, In a steam trap, the combination with a casing, of a radiator control-valve, and

an operating thermostat therefor comprising a flexible casing with top and bottom heads and a guide within the flexible casing for maintaining the heads of said flexible casing parallel during. movement independently of said flexible wall.

17. I11 a steam trap, the combination with a casing, of a radiator control-valve, and an operating thermostat therefor comprisinga tubularflexible wall with top and bottom .heads and a guide within the flexible Wall three chambers: first, an admission-cham ber containing a screen and adapted to communicate with the source of steam supply;

second, a valve-chamber communicating with the admission-chamber through the control-valve-and with the radiator; third, a thrmostabchamber separated from the valve-chamber by a flexible wall, together with operating connections from said Wall to the valve in the valve-chamber and to the thermostat in the thermostat-chamber.

19. In a steam trap, a casing formed in detachably connected superimposed sections one being a,trunk-section containing the several inletand exit ports and forming the body of the valve-chamber and another section secured -to the trunk-section and forming the cover of the valve-chamber. 20. In a steam trap, a casing formed in four detachably connected superimposed sections, one a trunk-section containing the several inlet and 'exitports, one a coversection for the'valve chamber and secured to the trunk-section, one a depending section below the trunk-section and secured thereto, and the fourth a basket-section for the thermostat and secured to said dependent section.

21. In a steam trap, the combination with a casing containing a valve-chamber and a thermostat-chamber beneath the valve chamber, the said chambers being separated by a perforated partition provided with a corrugated cylindrical wall, said partition and wall being removable downwardly into the thermostat-chamber, of operating connections between said cylindrical wall and the valve on the one hand and the thermostat on' the other hand.

22. In a steam trap the combination with a casing containing a valve-chamber and a thermostat-chamber separated by a partition, said partition including a corrugated cylinder closed at one end and extending into the valve-chamber, operating con nections between said valve and the cylinder, a thermostat in the thermostat-chamber and-a vertical operating rod extending from said thermostat up into said cylinder and guided therein for operating the valve through said cylinder, and a spring acting to press said rod downwardly.

23. In a steam trap, a separating device between the valve and thermostat-chambers containing both a rigid portion for attachinent to the casing and a flexible cylindrical portion closed at one end, an operating rod enterin the said cylindrical portion, a guide Em said rod within said cylindrical portion, a thermostat for operating said rod, and a valve operated by the said rod.

' In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, before two subscribing witnesses, this tenth day of January, 1912.

JAMES McELROY. 

